Our History - by Odie Mae Long​

The following history was submitted by Odie Mae Long, Church Historian.

It all began in 1830, as a small family or community log church and has

been ​growing ever since. Originally located down on Little River near

Evans Bridge, the church took it’s name from the river.

In 1839, twelve acres of land was deeded to the trustees of Little River

Church from John P. Winn, the same property where the church and

cemetery are still located. The first log building at this location served

as both school and church for the next fifteen years.

Sometime soon afterward, and open air arbor was built in the flat that is now our parking lot and camp meetings were begun as tents or small cabins were built around the arbor and families came and camped for ten days and held worship services four times each day.

In 1854, a new church building was erected on the knoll above the arbor, and is the same sanctuary we worship in today.

Cherokee County built a second school house on church property in 1891-92, and grades 1-7 were taught in this one room school until 1940, and the Masons used the second floor as their meeting place.

During these early years, Sunday School met every Sunday, but worship services were held only once a month, as the pastor served 4 or more churches on his circuit. But the people were faithful and filled with spirit & ambition, and LRUMC continued to grow.

At a later date, a Sunday School addition was added to the rear of the church, then the church was remodeled and brick veneered. Over a period of time gas heat and electricity were added and a fellowship hall was built, with kitchen and bathroom facilities. Finally, air conditioning was added. Finally, came the large Education Building in 1965, which tied the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary.

-Odie Mae has put together an incredibly detailed Church History book. It is available through the church.

1894 Little River Academy School Children

In the late 1800's, Little River had a schoolhouse on it's property, one of the first in Cherokee County.

This is the teacher & class circa 1920.

1920 School Children

After the old school house was torn down, this memorial was placed at one of its footers on the west hill of the Little River UMC property.

1928 LRUMC Membership​

1950's Fellowship Hall Completion

A Bit of Sunday School History

Members of the class of 1954 were:

​

Ralph & Lucretia Carpenter

G.C. & Louise Epps

Carl & Hazel Hames

Luke & June Higgins

J.W. & Sarah Keheley

Maize & Margaret Keheley

Elgin & Helen McCleskey

Harold & Ruby Lee McCleskey

Joe & Willie Stell

Roy & Pauline Childress

Howard & Jessie Goddard

Harold & Frances Hames

Ralph & Frances Holbert

Jack & Peggy Keheley

Byron & Odie Mae Long

Frank & Sue McCleskey

Parks & Sybil Sims

By: Odie Mae Long

It was members of the Young Adult Class of 1954 who built the Fellowship Hall to provide a place for the growing class to meet.

Rev. Robert L. Vaughn was pastor of the Woodstock Charge of 1953 and 1954. He later stated, "Most outstanding in my recollections of Little River was the large number of young married couples in the church and the way they led the work of the church."

By 1954, the Young Adult Sunday School Class had outgrown their classroom on the third level of the current main sanctuary building over the choir. ​​